Gene therapy and spinal disorders

For many years, treatment of chronic lower back pain, intervertebral disc d egeneration, spinal fusion, and spinal cord injury have been problematic. T he advances in molecular biology have now made it possible to address these problems at a molecular level. By gene therapy, a defective gene is replac ed with a normal or therapeutic gene. To be successful, the exact sequence and function of the specific gene must be understood, a vehicle for safe an d efficient delivery of the gene into the cells must be located, and the ex pression of the gene should be well controlled. Until now, difficulties wit h efficient gene transfer and appropriate gene expression have still been a n impediment. Besides, ethical problems of a carcinogenic and eugenic natur e have arisen [15], but with gene transfer as drug delivery system, there i s a great range of applications to acquired diseases. Research is also bein g conducted into various aspects of spinal disorders.